The Right Honourable Justice Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin was born on 28thMarch 1951 in Ipoh, Perak.

His Lordship had his early education at St Michael’s Institution in Ipoh, Perak and Royal Military College in Kuala Lumpur. He then proceeded to read law at the University of Malaya in which he graduated with LL.B (Hons) from the University of Malaya in 1976. He is the first batch of the University Malaya law graduate. He obtained his Master’s degree (LLM) from the University College, University of London in 1983.

His Lordship’s legal career began in 1976 as a Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Attorney General Chambers. His Lordship served in the Judicial and Legal Service in various posts such as Deputy Public Prosecutor in the Royal Customs Department, Federal Counsel at the Inland Revenue Department, Legal Advisor to the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Legal Advisor to the Ministry Housing and Local Government, State Legal Advisor to the State of Johor and Selangor, and Chairman of the Advisory Board in the Prime Minister’s Department.

His Lordship was appointed to the bench as Judicial Commissioner on 1st November 1994. His Lordship’s first posting was at Taiping High Court. His Lordship was then elevated as High Court Judge on 12th January 1996 where he served at the High Court in Malaya at Taiping, Shah Alam and Kuala Lumpur.

His Lordship was elevated to the Court of Appeal on 17th June 2005 and to the Federal Court on 5th September 2007. His Lordship was later appointed as the Chief Judge of Malaya on 12th September 2011.

On 4 April 2017, YAA Tan Sri Dato' Seri Zulkefli bin Ahmad Makinudin has been officially appointed as the President Court of Appeal.